Machine or hand

[Eterry]

I think that the 'Smith's of old used what they could afford, and upgraded to power tools (treadle lathes, water powered equipment) when possible.
One must remember that the Rifled Flintlock long arm with PRB's WAS cutting edge technology until the 1830's when the cap lock arrived.
Ned Roberts spoke of early 19th century gunsmiths using factory barrels and locks and even in his time couldn't locate a living person who knew how to forge a barrel.
I often get amused by people talking down modern
conveniences and praising the primitive days...but they are doing so on a web forum...(not aimed at anyone here, just an
observation.)
As before stated, do whatever you please, it's yours, but I think the phrase "The good old days" was coined by someone who didn't live in that era.

 

[Rifleman1776]

The original gunsmiths may have used power tools if they had them

Of course they had power tools and did use them. Only the power did not come from batteries or electric wires. It came from apprentices or slaves. And, in some cases, animals. Or water power.

 

[M. De Land]

Actually machine tools have been used since before firearms were invented.
Some Golden age shops had wall mounted hand driven drill presses, trundle ( foot powered) lathes and even milling machines, inertia wheel barrel drills ,planers and of course forge welding operating on premises.

 

[M. De Land]

Now to give a bit of balance to my opinions, I have to admit to being a file junky. I simply cannot get enough of them but do have a few I use more than any others.
One of my favorites is a small triangular Swiss file with one safe edge used for final fitting dovetail sights and a super fine lathe file I use on muzzle crowns.
I make the main dovetail barrel cuts with a standard end mill cutter to get the correct depth and remove most of the barrel stock, then the dovetail cutter is set up in the mill to make the shoulders sharp and perfectly flat with the dovetail bottom and within .005 to completed width then the final fitting is done with the Swiss triangular, one side safe file.
Fit in this manor the sights nor barrel require any unsightly peening or swaging marks to hold them in place and they can be drifted right or left for windage adjustments and still be tight and firm.
This is an example of what I'm talking about.

 

[JohnN]

Amazing video. Thank goodness for cast parts and the companies that sell them.

 

[Doug Lykins]

.....and companies that make barrels, locks, use pantograph stock duplicators, etc etc. It's a good video, humbling isn't it?

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

but Wallace Gusler did the same thing about 40 years ago

:shocked2:

I own both his engraving and relief carving DVDs, and it looked like you would have to devote a lifetime to refine just one of those skills to his level :shocked2: :shocked2:

now you inform me that he also does everything nosecap to buttplate as well :shocked2: :shocked2: :shocked2:

...also, I know about European trade locks, cottage industries for parts manufacturing, etc...I just labeled it wrong. thank you for the correction.

the link was more directed to new builders, as I assumed the vets here would already know about it

 

[Gustavo Hoefs]

You probably needed some hard flat stones, small ones like what people today think of as sharpening stones. Parting lines are aggravating and in the way back time they forged most of those little parts. Bottom line IMO is the rules have already been stretched by the parts being cast not forged so dont sweat over the dremmel tool.

 

[jerrywh]

Turn out the lights and get some candles.
That renegade didn't exist back then either. It has to go also.
Somewhere I have a photo of a barrel machine powered by dogs running on a tred wheel like hampsters in a wheel.